Wendell Carter Jr. spent his summer balancing two worlds: getting himself ready for another NBA season and showing up for Angel Reese’s playoff push.
The Orlando Magic big man said in a conversation with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson that he has been grinding through gym work ahead of his sixth season with the team, often training alongside other NBA talent. But part of the offseason also took him on the road, where he made time to support Reese as she pushed toward her first WNBA Finals.
Carter said he moved back and forth between Atlanta Dream games and facility practices, making that support part of his routine while still keeping his own preparation on track. He described the stretch as a "great summer" filled with "hard work, a lot of relaxation, and a lot of support for my girl."
Earlier this year, Carter also talked to Scoop B about the competitive edge he and Reese bring out in each other. In that April conversation, he said the couple tries to shut out the "white noise" and avoid getting caught up in anything that pulls them away from their goals.
He added that they already have a solid foundation, and the focus now is on staying locked in on what comes next for both of their professional paths.
Reese’s season has now added another major milestone. The Atlanta Dream are set to face the Golden State Valkyries in the 2026 WNBA Finals, giving Reese another headline moment in what has already been a decorated third season.
The matchup carries some history on both sides. The Valkyries are only in their second season and are reaching their first Finals, while the Dream last made the WNBA Finals in 2013 and have still never won a championship.
Carter was around for part of Reese’s playoff run, including a stop at WNBA Semifinals Game 1 against the New York Liberty. But with his own season set to open on Oct. 21 against the Atlanta Hawks, it remains unclear whether he’ll be available to watch more of the Finals in person.
The WNBA Finals are scheduled to tip off on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 pm ET at the Chase Center.
In Other News...
Magic Face A New Kind Of Pressure In The Southeast
The preseason opener against Miami is already carrying more weight than the usual October tune-up for Orlando, because the Southeast Division suddenly looks a lot tighter around the Magic. A closer look at the division shows several rivals making notable offseason moves, and the first real measuring stick comes against a Heat team that has helped set the standard in the East for years.
For Orlando, the question is less about style points than staying on the right side of the health ledger and getting enough from a roster that will be judged against a stronger field than it faced a year ago. The challenge is not just Miami, either, with Washington and Atlanta also reshaping the division picture in ways that could force the Magic to prove they can keep pace from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Sweeney Is Giving The Magic An Identity Fans Will Notice
Noah Penda has been one of the quieter preseason developments around the Magic, but his progress has been easy to notice for a team trying to sort out what it wants to look like under Sean Sweeney. The forward has flashed signs of growth, and Orlandos broader work this fall has centered on a new system that asks everyone to understand where they fit and what the team expects from them on both ends of the floor.
That structure has already started to show up in the way the Magic are carrying themselves, with players speaking about a group that feels more organized and more confident as the regular season nears. Pendas own preseason step forward fits neatly into that picture, though Orlando is still in the middle of the adjustment period and the biggest test will come once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch This Heat Finale
The preseason has given the Magic a useful early look at how Sean Sweeney wants this group to function, and Fridays finale against Miami should offer one more test of the teams execution in his new systems. Orlando has spent camp working through the details that matter when the games count, and the matchup with the Heat is a chance to see how much cleaner the operation looks after another round of reps.
There was also encouraging movement on the health front at practice, where Anthony Black and Jonathan Isaac both got on the court as they continue working their way back. Black has been dealing with a right ankle sprain, while Isaac has been navigating a left knee issue and some time away last week for personal reasons, so their availability has been worth monitoring as the Magic inch toward opening night. In a separate off-court note, guard Jase Richardson helped host a basketball clinic for local youth, another reminder that this final preseason stretch has carried some community flavor along with the on-court tune-up. [Read more 🡒]